Governor Andy Beshear and Energy Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman have announced that seven counties, including McLean County, have been awarded a total of $886,151 to enhance road safety and promote the reuse of waste tires through rubber-modified asphalt projects.
The Governor’s office announced that McLean County will receive $56,250 to resurface Tram Road. Other counties awarded funding include Butler, Hardin, Larue, Meade, Russell, and Todd.
According to officials, the selected roads have culverts, shoulders, and bases in good condition, making them ideal candidates for resurfacing. Grant funds will be used to apply a rubber-modified asphalt overlay to these county roads. Officials noted this type of thin asphalt overlay has been proven to reduce noise, resist cracking and rutting, and extend the lifespan of the roadway by 7 to 10 years.
As part of the grant agreement, counties must fund the application of a conventional chip seal or thin overlay on a comparable road within their jurisdiction. This will allow for a side-by-side comparison of conventional materials versus rubber-modified asphalt.
Funding for these projects is provided by the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund, which collects $2 from each new tire sold in the Commonwealth. Team Kentucky accepts applications for rubber-modified asphalt grants each March, with a submission deadline of April 1.
Now in its ninth year, the Rubber-Modified Asphalt grant program has supported projects totaling nearly $4.1 million across 34 counties since its inception.
